SIGNS OF SAFETY CONSULTANT • BACHELOR OF SOCIAL WORK WITH CHILD WELFARE SPECIALIZATION • MASTERS OF SOCIAL WORK WITH INDIGENOUS SPECIALIZATION
The Signs of Safety approach to child protection casework was developed through the 1990s in Western Australia. It was created by Andrew Turnell and Steve Edwards, in collaboration with over 150 West Australian child protection workers (CPWs), and is now utilised in jurisdictions in the USA, Canada, the UK, Sweden, The Netherlands, New Zealand and Japan. The approach focuses on the question “How can the worker build partnerships with parents and children in situations of suspected or substantiated child abuse and still deal rigorously with the maltreatment issues?” This strengths-based and safety-focused approach to child protection work is grounded in partnership and collaboration. It expands the investigation of risk to encompass strengths and Signs of Safety that can be built upon to stabilise and strengthen a child’s and family’s situation. A format for undertaking comprehensive risk assessment — assessing both danger and strengths/safety — is incorporated within the one-page Signs of Safety assessment protocol. (This form is the only formal protocol used in the model). The approach is designed to be used from commencement through to case closure in order to assist professionals at all stages of the child protection process, whether they be in statutory, hospital, residential or treatment settings.
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The impetus to create the Signs of Safety approach arose from Steve’s 16 years of experience as a front-line child protection practitioner, eight of those working primarily with Aboriginal communities. Steve was very dissatisfied with most of the models and theory regarding child protection practice that he encountered. Despite 16 years of front-line practice, Steve felt that most of the policy, guidance and books he read – and most of what he learned at university and in training situations (the theory) – was very distant from his experience of actual child protection work (undertaking investigations, deciding when and how to remove children, dealing with angry parents, etc.). Because of this, throughout his child protection career, Steve always sought out new ideas that might better describe his experience of practice.
THE SIGNS OF SAFETY APPROACH
Steve Edwards and Andrew Turnell, co-creators of the Signs of Safety model.
(usually groups of about 15 to 20 workers) for five days in the Signs of Safety approach, as they understood it at the time. This training was always grounded in practice and always involved other workers, who had used the approach, describing their experiences to the trainees. Following this, Steve and Andrew spent at least one day a month with the workers, focusing on where those workers had been using the approach and what had been useful for them, as well as exploring situations where they were stuck. By focusing on where workers were using the approach and making progress, Andrew and Steve learned directly from the CPWs about where, when and how the practitioners were actually able to use the Signs of Safety approach. Steve had always said that only the ideas, skills and guidance that the workers actually used would be included in the Signs of Safety model. This collaborative learning process used in all follow-up sessions formed the action research/appreciative inquiry method that created and evolved the Signs of Safety approach. (For more information about action research and appreciative inquiry, see Cooperrider and Srivastva, 1987; Watkins, J.M. and Mohr, 2001.
We are excited to announce that the 12th International Signs of Safety Gathering will be held in Dublin Ireland, co-hosted by Tusla Child and Family Agency, from 6–8 November 2018.
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Join us to hear presentations from child protection practitioners and leaders from across Europe and around the globe. This Gathering will also feature presentations from many Irish practitioners working in Tusla Child and Family Agency who, with their leaders, will describe their use of the Signs of Safety in the first whole country implementation of the approach.
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The 2018 Gathering will be held in the beautiful seaside town of Dún Laoghaire, 12 kilometres south of the centre of Dublin. Irish culture, hospitality and warmth is famous around the world and we have chosen the fabulous and historic Royal Marine Hotel in Dún Laoghaire for the 2018 Gathering because its meeting and accommodation facilities are perfect for all participants to share a fantastic three days learning.
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Signs of Safety Gatherings are special because they celebrate good child protection practice through presentations from practitioners and from leaders who are supporting them. Focusing on success creates hope and inspiration for child protection professionals and renews our enthusiasm for the work. Join us at the 2018 Signs of Safety Gathering in Dún Laoghaire and be part of changing the child protection story.
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This Gathering will feature presentations from:
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Leading international Signs of Safety practitioners and agencies
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TUSLA child protection professionals presenting their work from their nationwide implementation
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Researchers describing the rapidly expanding Signs of Safety evidence base
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System-wide Implementation experiences, reflections and strategies
2018 INTERNATIONAL SOS GATHERING
In 1993, Steve and Andrew began working with other child protection practitioners, training them in what they had learned from the previous three years of collaboration. Between 1994 and 2000, Steve and Andrew undertook eight 6-month projects with over 150 West Australians, from which the Signs of Safety approach to child protection practice evolved and was refined. During the first month of each project, Andrew and Steve would train the CPWs
Signs Of Safety Gatherings
The eleventh International Signs of Safety Gathering was held in Kansas City, Misouri.
2017 INTERNATIONAL SOS GATHERING
The tenth International Signs of Safety Gathering was held in Norwich, England.
2016 INTERNATIONAL SOS GATHERING
